Your itinerary
Day 1
DAY 1
Arrival in Calgary
Day 2
Calgary
Calgary – Today we start our spectacular journey from Calgary across the gently rolling prairies of Alberta and soon the amazing slate-grey, snow-capped peaks of the Rockies come into view. On arrival in Banff, we’ll check into our hotel for the next three nights and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 3
Banff
Banff – This morning our breathtaking journey is along the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular roads in the world, with stunning mountain vistas. Our first stop is famous Lake Louise, completely encircled by high peaks, perhaps the most photographed view in the Rockies. We then take in Peyto Lake, one of the world’s most beautiful azure-blue glacial waters.
Finally we see the Columbia Icefield, the largest in the Rockies, covering an area of over 200 square miles with depths of over 1,000 feet. We’ll ride on a giant ‘Snocoach’ (weather permitting) across the Athabasca Glacier for a closer inspection of the massive crevasses before returning to Banff.
Day 4
Banff free day
Banff free day – Today we have a free day. Why not take a leisurely ‘float’ trip on the Bow River or a dip in Banff’s relaxing hot springs. There are also helicopter trips on offer, or perhaps a ride up to the top of Sulphur Mountain at 7,500 feet on the Banff gondola.
Several walks commence from the peak and there’s also a restaurant with an open-air terrace. Also very popular is afternoon tea at the magnificent Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, built in the style of a massive Scottish baronial castle.
Day 5
Rocky Mountaineer Train
Rocky Mountaineer Train – This morning we set off on what is one of the world’s greatest train journeys! Crossing high passes, deep ravines and innumerable spectacular bridges, places that can only be seen by rail, the Rocky Mountaineer is acknowledged as the ultimate way to travel through the beautifully rugged terrain of Alberta and British Columbia.
Boarding the Rocky Mountaineer you’ll be led to your assigned comfortable reclining seats, with plenty of legroom and large panoramic windows. The train begins its spectacular two day 585-mile journey following the wide Bow River valley before crossing the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass.
Next come the famed spiral tunnels, an engineering marvel built 100 years ago, and as we follow the Columbia River we cross the dramatic 500-foot steel span of Stoney Creek bridge. The excellent on-board commentary highlights the intriguing history of the towns en route and the building of the railway itself.
Meals in SilverLeaf Class include excellent hot meals served at your seat on each day including complimentary snacks, tea and coffee, non-alcoholic drinks, plus beer and house wine with lunch, all served at your seat (bar service at extra cost). Upgrade to the excellent GoldLeaf Services and their impressive Dome carriages.
Our overnight stay is in a range of medium-class hotels in the town of Kamloops.
Personalise your holiday –
Upgrade to Gold Leaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer
From: £829 (2026)
Your tour includes the Silver Leaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer train, however, you may wish to upgrade to the double-decker Gold Leaf Dome carriage with its panoramic wrap-round windows that make you feel right in the middle of the breathtaking scenery! Gold Leaf guests also have access to the open-air observation vestibule at the end of each carriage. Impeccable service is complimented with 3-course gourmet dining in the lower-level dining room.
Upgrades are subject to availability and are not bookable online.
Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 6
Vancouver
Vancouver – We continue our journey to Vancouver. Following the Fraser and Thomson River canyons, passing the Jaws of Death Gorge, Avalanche Alley and Hell’s Gate Canyon, we criss-cross the river many times as we travel through some of British Columbia’s most scenic country.
We finally reach Vancouver during the afternoon after a truly once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch
Day 7
Vancouver
Vancouver – Vancouver regularly features as one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities: the blue of the Pacific Ocean with its picturesque harbour, the glass skyscrapers reflecting the sunlight and the lush coastal mountains form a stunning backdrop.
This morning we tour the city stopping at Stanley Park, with its famous collection of totem poles and Prospect Point, which offers lovely views.
The afternoon is at leisure – there’s plenty to see and do in this sophisticated city. A popular, easy walk starts from Vancouver’s waterfront pedestrian promenade to the huge expanse of Stanley Park.
The path continues along the seashore and offers stunning vistas across the bay until you reach English Bay’s sandy beach, a lovely spot to watch the sunset.
Day 8
DAY 8
Return home
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain
Ride the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, stepping onto a ridge-top boardwalk with 360-degree views over the Bow Valley, Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain to soak in the peaks and valleys.
Explore interpretive exhibits and watch for golden alpenglow as the sun dips behind serrated peaks. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with timed ascent slots chosen to suit your pace.
Bow River Gentle Float Trip
Drift on a gentle float trip on the Bow River, skimming past spruce forests and rocky bluffs with the skyline of Banff rising and receding around each bend.
Your river guide shares natural history and wildlife stories while you pause for photos and reflection from the raft’s low vantage. At additional cost and bookable on tour; calm water and provided lifejackets make this suitable for most travelers.
Helicopter Flightseeing over the Rockies
Lift off on a scenic helicopter flight for a bird’s-eye sweep of ice-clad peaks, hanging valleys and braided rivers near the Continental Divide, skimming misty mountain passes when conditions allow.
Large windows offer superb photography as the pilot narrates geology and glaciation shaping this alpine kingdom. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; flight durations vary to match your appetite for adventure.
Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Banff Springs
Savour afternoon tea at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a grand property styled as a Scottish baronial castle overlooking the Bow Valley.
Tiered trays of sandwiches, scones and delicate pastries pair with premium loose-leaf teas while you admire mountain views from the lounge. At additional cost and bookable on tour; a relaxed indulgence evocative of railway era hospitality.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park & Grouse Mountain
Venture across the Capilano Suspension Bridge and explore the forested Cliffwalk and Treetops Adventure, feeling cedar-scented air and canyon views just minutes from downtown.
Continue to Grouse Mountain by aerial tram for a panorama over Burrard Inlet and the city’s glittering skyline. This add-on is at additional cost and bookable on tour; seasonal shows and exhibits deepen your understanding of the coastal rainforest.
Vancouver Harbour Sunset Cruise
Cruise the harbour at dusk on a relaxed Vancouver sunset sailing, gliding past Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge and the mirrored skyline as the mountains silhouette.
Narration reveals port history and coastal ecology while you enjoy open-air decks ideal for golden-hour photography. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; a calm-water outing suited to most travelers.
Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Dome Service Upgrade
Upgrade to GoldLeaf Service on the Rocky Mountaineer and relax in a bi-level dome car with panoramic wraparound windows that heighten every canyon and glacier view.
Savour plated, multi-course dining in a dedicated lower-deck restaurant and step onto the open-air vestibule for clear mountain air and photos. This enhancement is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to availability.
Rocky Mountaineer Two-Day Rail Journey
Board the Rocky Mountaineer and settle into SilverLeaf service with wide seats, picture windows and attentive hosts. Glide through river valleys and pine-clad slopes while live commentary points out wildlife and frontier towns, with hot breakfasts and lunches served to your seat.
Trace the Bow River to cross the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass, curve through the engineered Spiral Tunnels and roll past Stoney Creek Bridge. Day two follows the Thompson and Fraser Canyons, skirting Hell’s Gate Canyon and Avalanche Alley—remote scenery seen only by rail.
Icefields Parkway: Lake Louise & Peyto Lake
Explore the Icefields Parkway, pausing at Lake Louise where the Victoria Glacier crowns a mirror-like lagoon. Follow the shoreline path for mountain-framed views and pause for photos and reflection beside the Fairmont’s chateau.
Continue to Peyto Lake at Bow Summit, a high vantage where glacial rock flour turns the water an unreal turquoise. Your Tour Manager highlights peaks of the Waputik Range and points out wildlife corridors that give this protected valley its living, breathing character.
Columbia Icefield & Athabasca Glacier Snocoach Ride
Ride the Snocoach onto the Athabasca Glacier for a rare chance to step onto ancient ice. Feel the alpine chill as guides explain crevasse patterns and the blue-hued ice revealed by centuries of slow movement.
Set within the vast Columbia Icefield, this frozen river is over 300 metres thick in places and part of a system spanning more than 500 square kilometres. Learn how meltwater feeds major watersheds while you pause for photos and reflection on the safely marked ice.
Vancouver City Tour & Stanley Park Totems
Join a guided panoramic tour of Vancouver, taking in the waterfront at Canada Place, Coal Harbour and the seawall. Enter Stanley Park for forested trails and views across Burrard Inlet toward the North Shore mountains.
Visit the First Nations totem poles and continue to Prospect Point, a lookout framing the Lions Gate Bridge and glittering skyline. Along the way, your Tour Manager points out Gastown’s heritage corners and modern neighborhoods that reveal the city’s Pacific Rim character.
